Monthly Archives: May 2010

It is a universal fundamental truth that unless we take full responsibility for the life we lead and the potential that lies within all of us, we will never empower ourselves to achieve the goals and aspirations that many of us only ever dream about. No one ever said that conquering the blocks that prevent you from life-long learning and realizing your full potential through personal growth was going to be easy. But I will say this:No matter what the struggle…no matter what the sacrifice…Over a lifetime, it is worth it to make the effort to conquer those blocks!

Always remember that the price you will pay for choosing to live a life of mediocrity and unfulfilled ambition is much higher than the price you will ever pay to enjoy success, prosperity, and happiness. I am continually saddened by the stories I hear of the lives of regret and how people live out a life of“IF ONLY”.

Look, we all know how bad times are the moment and things aren’t going too well for millions of people over the world. Perhaps you are one of them or you recognize this situation in someone close to you…

— Maybe YOU are one of those people who are up to your eyeballs in debt, about to lose your home or car- so you’re blaming the economy!

— Maybe YOU are one of those people who are overworked and underpaid- so you’re blaming your boss!

— MaybeYOU are one of those people who have been laid off- so you’re blaming your old company!

If this sounds all too familiar, maybe YOU are falling into the trap of blaming someone or something else for the life you have been dealt instead of taking responsibility for it. Justifying your failures by blaming someone else won’t change anything. You know the only one who can change your life is YOU… and all the blaming in the world won’t ever change that fact!!

I know it sounds really heavy when someone says‘take responsibility for your life’. However, rather than dreading responsibility, I want to encourage you to think of the positive benefits that come with responsibility and to seek it out because no one can ever be truly fulfilled until they eagerly seek out and accept responsibility.

Why not take a few minutes now and think about things that have happened recently or in the past that have given you real satisfaction. You know that feeling of real fulfillment. The point is to think of the real benefits that come to you when you do take personal responsibility.

For example:

>> Didn’t you feel good about yourself when you took responsibility and passed that tough driving test you’d been dreading?

>> Didn’t you feel good about yourself when you took responsibility and graduated from high school or college?

>> Didn’t you feel good about yourself when you took responsibility and lost 15 pounds?

>> Didn’t you feel good about yourself when you took responsibility and helped a friend who was down and out?

>> Didn’t you feel good about yourself when you took responsibility and saved the money to buy your first home?

Of course you did and I am sure you can add many more to the above examples.

SO,let me ask you now if you get a deeper sense of satisfaction from getting things done or putting things off? Achieving success by accepting responsibility or accepting mediocrity and blaming it on someone or something else? I think anyone who has ever accepted responsibility and seen it through to the end would know, without a shadow of a doubt, which of these choices leads to a greater sense of satisfaction and definitely one of fulfillment.

THE POINT IS THIS:

Taking responsibility is NOT something we should seek to avoid- it is something we must embrace if we want to experience all of the great rewards that life has to offer. When you do take personal responsibility, each and every accomplishment will give you a real sense of achievement, a deep sense of satisfaction and make you feel fulfilled, worthwhile and valuable.

The famous American novelist Mary McCarthy once said that “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself!”

What a powerful message that should be for all of us.

Naturally, we have no control over when we are given life and under what circumstances we come into the world but what about the life you choose to create for yourself starting right this very moment? The challenge is to create yourself by making an unconditional commitment to take responsibility for every aspect of your life.

It is never too late to take responsibility!

All you have to do is say“Beginning today, I assume total responsibility for who I am and what I become.”

CONGRATULATIONS! You just made a vow that has the power to make you more valuable than you ever dreamed possible.

Now you can see how accepting responsibility for who you are and what you become can dramatically increase your value to your profession, your family, your friends and above all, to yourself?

It is the difference between an ordinary life… and anEXTRAORDINARY LIFE!